Published : 03 Feb 2026, 10:06 AM
The deadline for the report was Jan 31. But the independent committee formed to investigate the sexual harassment allegations made by cricketer Jahanara Alam finally submitted its findings to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday.
The investigation committee, led by retired Supreme Court Appellate Division judge Tariq ul Hakim, handed over its report to BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul. No announcement has been made regarding the findings.
The committee was formed on Nov 9.
Despite three extensions being granted, the report still missed its deadline. Initially, the BCB had said that the report would be submitted within 15 days. As part of that process, Jahanara was asked to formally file a complaint. The cricketer, who was in Australia, requested an additional 15 days to do so. Then she was asked to file a complaint by Dec 20.
After Jahanara submitted a written complaint, the BCB said again on Dec 22 that the investigation committee had been asked to submit a report by Jan 31. It said at the time, "The committee sees the need to talk to a few more people and verify information in the interest of a fair and appropriate investigation."
That process has finally come to an end.
She claimed that during the 2022 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, selector and manager Manjurul Islam made inappropriate proposals and subjected her to repeated mental harassment, sexual advances, and retaliatory behaviour when she refused.
Similar allegations were made against former women’s cricket in-charge Touhid Mahmud, once the personal assistant of former BCB president Nazmul Hassan.
She also lodged complaints against other team management and board officials, claiming that repeated reports to then women’s cricket chairman Shafiul Alam Chowdhury and board CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury were ignored or only temporarily addressed.
The country's most successful pacer in women's cricket also made allegations against several other members of the team management and the board.
After Jahanara's allegations, several other cricketers started speaking out. Following the uproar, the BCB formed a three-member investigation committee. The convener of this committee was retired judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Tariq ul Hakim. The other two members are BCB's sole female director Rubaba Dowla and Supreme Court senior lawyer Barrister Sarwat Siraj Shukla.
After much criticism over the formation of this committee, the number of members was increased by two. Former chairman of the Dhaka University Department of Law and current member of the Bangladesh Law Commission, Prof Naima Haque, and senior advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh Barrister Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman Khan were added.
Jahanara, 32, played 52 ODIs and 83 T20s for Bangladesh, captaining the national side and becoming the country’s most successful pace bowler. She now resides in Sydney, Australia, playing club cricket and pursuing coaching courses.